Police Make Second Arrest In West Hartford Shooting Case

November 06, 2013|By CHRISTINE DEMPSEY and DAVID OWENS, cdempsey@courant.com, The Hartford Courant

WEST HARTFORD — A New Britain man accused of firing shots during one of two attempted carjackings last week was trying to rob a suspected drug dealer, police said Wednesday.

Police have identified the drug dealer as Davon Gill, 21, of 32 Oakwood Ave. He was arrested Tuesday on parole violations and drug charges; his charges include possession of less than a half ounce of marijuana and illegal distribution of a controlled substance.

James Walker, 38, of Linden Street was arrested Oct. 30 after he tried to carjack Gill on Oakwood Avenue. He fired two shots when the driver sped off and tried to carjack another vehicle on Troy Street.

According to police, the incident unfolded at about 10 p.m. Oct. 30 when Walker and Gill arrived at 30-32 Oakwood Ave. from Capen Street in Hartford. Walker had paid him $20 to drive him there, police said.

When they arrived, Walker got out of the car, walked around to the driver's door and ordered Gill to give him his cash and cellphone and to get out of the car, police said. Instead, the driver sped off and Walker fired two rounds at it, striking it once, they said.

Police were called; officers set up a perimeter and learned that Walker was last seen running toward Park Road.

An officer then saw a man running north on Troy Street. Police said they later learned that Walker had pointed his gun at the resident of 45 Troy St. and ordered him to hand over his car keys and cellphone.

Walker apparently took off before he could take the car because police were closing in, police said. He then ran onto nearby Beverly Road, where another officer saw him run behind 101 Beverly, they said.

A police dog was brought in and tracked him from 30 Oakwood Ave. to the rear of 192 Arnoldale, which is where officers found a man matching Walker's description walking out the back door, police said.